Housebreaking is much, much easier if you use a crate. Riding in a car is safer in a crate. It's good to have somewhere to put the puppy when you really can't watch him or there's a lot going on in the household When you go on vacation and take your dog, you'll always have a safe place to leave him when you're visiting Aunt Ethel who really can't abide a dog in the house.

Your puppy should not have free run of your home. Aside from the housebreaking issue, there are too just many things he can get into -- things that are dangerous to him or just valuables you don't want destroyed! When you are busy, either crate the puppy or tether his leash to you so that you know what he is doing. Use commands such as "settle down" or "easy" when the puppy is too wild.

When a dog has been crate-trained properly, he will use his crate as a den and you'll often find him in it with the door wide open–just enjoying his own private space.

Here are some general guidelines, thoughts, and suggestions.

A crate should never be used as punishment.

A puppy should not be confined to a crate for longer than two or three hours. (see housetraining article). If you're going to be gone for more than three or four hours at a time, use the crate in conjunction with either an exercise pen or a room set up just for the puppy. Never leave him in a crate all day long.

Don't put his crate in a room where he will be all by himself. If necessary, move the crate from room to room with you as you move around the house.

If you'll allow the puppy to sleep in the crate in your bedroom, he is likely to be quieter than if you put him in the crate in another room. Puppies who are allowed to be with their people are calmer and quieter. Also that way you'll know when he has to go outside.

Try to make the crate fun for the puppy. Toss a treat into the crate and when he goes in to get it, praise him enthusiastically. Once in a while when the puppy goes to retrieve the treat, close the door for a few minutes. If he is quiet, say "Good puppy!" and open the door again. If he makes a fuss, ignore him till he's quiet and then open the door. It's important that he does not learn that crying and shrieking will get the door open for him!

When you're training him to crate, don't put him in there when he is wound up and ready to play. Give him plenty of playtime, and when he settles down for a nap, put him in the crate quietly, much as you would put a baby in its crib. Close the door. He may cry for awhile, but if he's tired enough, he'll settle down.

Pick a word to use as a command, such as "crate" or "kennel" or "bed" and use it every time you put him in the crate.

When you close the door for the first few times, sit on the floor by the crate and talk to the puppy. If he cries or whines, you can put your fingers through the grate to reassure him. He will probably whine for a short while and may even fall asleep. Stay there till the whining stops and the puppy calms down and then open the crate door. This will be five to ten minutes usually.

Don't use a lot of praise when you open the crate door. Ignore the puppy for a few minutes after he is out. You don't want him to get the idea that going in the crate is a big deal and that getting out is so much more fun than being in the crate. Don't let him out until he is quiet for at least 30 seconds and has calmed down if he has been whining. Don't yell or correct him in any way...just calmly wait him out. Try to never let him out when he is crying or whining. It's amazing how quickly he will learn that tantrums get him what he wants!

If he falls asleep in the crate, great! Open the door after about five minutes anyway and let him sleep in the crate with the door open, and when he wakes up, take him right outside to potty.